The Arizona Cardinals have a large group of free agents entering the offseason. For some of them, the Cardinals don’t really have a replacement for them already on the roster. For some, there are players who could potentially slide into the role.
Who are those who could fill the role of potential departed free agents?
OL Mason Cole
All signs point toward A.Q. Shipley returning in 2020. However, if he and the Cardinals can’t come to terms, they do have Cole. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury considers Cole a starting-caliber offensive lineman and gave him offensive snaps at all three interior positions in the season’s final games just to get him on the field.
Cole battled Shipley for the starting center job right up to the end of the preseason. Having drafted Lamont Gaillard, Cole could slide into the starting role and Gaillard could be the versatile interior backup.
QB Drew Anderson
This is a stretch, but this was the goal Anderson had entering the season. The goal for him was to be on the practice squad and to progress enough to potentially be the backup in 2020. Brett Hundley is a free agent and he could walk, and Case Keenum will be a free agent, a perfect fit to work with Kingsbury but Anderson just might be ready to handle the backup role.
WR Andy Isabella
With Pharoh Cooper set to hit free agency, this is the time for Isabella to take over that role. The team views him as a potential impact slot receiver and he struggled bouncing between the slot and outside. Cooper was re-signed during the season because Isabella wasn’t ready. That shouldn’t happen again.
TE Dan Arnold
Charles Clay hits free agency and the Cardinals probably will let him go. He and Maxx Williams were the starters. Arnold played very well in the last couple of games of the season. He has the potential to be the team’s clear No. 2 tight end.
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Ep. 255
Ep. 254
